BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD temporarily suspended on Freeview

BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD temporarily suspended on Freeview

Postby dutchman » Thu Jun 30, 2022 1:19 am

Viewers retuning find on-screen messages advising them to switch to the standard definition versions of BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD

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It affects Freeview and YouView viewers who previously watched BBC Four HD on channel 106 and CBeebies HD on channel 205. They will find both channels are not available.

The BBC confirmed at the beginning of the month that both HD channels would continue broadcasting on Freeview beyond the end of June. Both BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD faced the loss of their Freeview slots due to the closure of the COM7 multiplex to may way for 5G services.

At the time, the BBC explained that provision had been made for BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD to move into available capacity that has been newly identified on the PSB3 multiplex, which the BBC operates.

Freeview then confirmed that on 29th June, both channels would require a retune.

The BBC has now amended the wording of its announcement. It now says these changes are “coming soon”, without committing to a date. It has not explained why there has been a delay. An off-EPG test transmission of BBC Four HD on the new capacity was observed earlier this month in the London region. Since then, no further tests have been observed.

For the time being, both BBC Four and CBeebies will be unavailable in HD on Freeview or YouView.

As previously confirmed, BBC News HD closes on Freeview on Thursday 30th June. BBC News continues to be available in standard definition on channel 231. Smart TV users can access a high quality feed through the iPlayer. Alternatively, BBC News HD continues on Sky, Freesat and Virgin Media.

Following the closure of COM7, there is no additional capacity for further HD channels.

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Re: BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD temporarily suspended on Freeview

Postby dutchman » Sun Sep 11, 2022 8:43 pm

BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD restored

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Both BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD were originally suspended on Freeview at the end of June. Now, more viewers than ever can access the high definition channels.

BBC Four HD is available from 7pm each night on Freeview channel 106. CBeebies HD is available through the day on Freeview channel 205.

The channels now have a technical reach of just over 98.5% of UK households following the completion of engineering work allowing them to stay on Freeview. In reality reach is lower, as some households do not yet have a Freeview HD TV.

BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD previously used capacity on the COM7 multiplex that was closed in June to make way for more 5G services. But the BBC identified capacity on one of its own multiplexes that could be used to continue broadcasting the channels. However, the capacity was not available in time for the COM7 switch-off, leading to the temporary suspension.

  • Freeview users will be able to reset series links and recordings if they want a recording in HD quality instead.
Engineering work allowing the BBC to carry one additional service (CBeebies HD/BBC Four HD in timeshare) on its HD multiplex has now completed.

This means the BBC can carry seven HD channels at any one time on its HD multiplex. They are: BBC One HD, BBC Two HD, BBC Three HD*/CBBC HD timeshare, BBC Four HD/CBeebies HD timeshare, ITV HD (STV HD or UTV HD), Channel 4 HD and Channel 5 HD.

*In Scotland: BBC Scotland HD instead of BBC Three HD. In Wales, S4C HD in place of BBC Three HD.

The next scheduled Freeview HD change is the addition of BBC One HD regions in England, which is currently due to complete in the next six months.

BBC News HD

There was insufficient capacity to add BBC News HD following all the changes. As a result, BBC News remains SD only on Freeview. Viewers with a smart TV can access BBC News in HD through the BBC iPlayer.

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